Psalms 106:10 Meaning: God Saves When We Don’t Deserve It
He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
And He saveth them from the hand Of him who is hating, And redeemeth them from the hand of the enemy.
And he saved them from the hand of him that hated [them], and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 106:10 shows God saving Israel from Pharaoh at the Red Sea, revealing unmerited mercy and sovereign power despite their rebellion.
Context
Psalm 106 is a long confession. The writer looks back at Israel’s history and names the ways they failed God. But he does it in order to ask for mercy. Starting in verse 7, he recalls the Red Sea. The people were terrified. They complained against Moses. They doubted God’s plan. Then verse 10 appears. It is a sudden turn: “He saved them.” Not because they were faithful, but because He is merciful. The whole section (verses 8, 12) shows that God acted for His own name’s sake, not because Israel earned it. This verse sits at the high point of that rescue. It describes what God did while His people were still grumbling. That is the pattern of grace throughout the psalm.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb yasha (saved) means to deliver, to give victory in a tight spot. It is the root of the name Joshua and Jesus. God does not just help from a distance, He steps in and pulls His people out of danger. The word yad (hand) appears twice in this verse. It means power, control, possession. The enemy had his hand raised against Israel. God’s hand was stronger. And the word ga’al (redeemed) carries family feeling. A kinsman-redeemer was a close relative who paid the price to set you free. God did not rescue Israel like a stranger helping a stranger. He acted as family. He paid the cost to bring them out of the enemy’s grip. Every time you read “redeemed” in the Old Testament, that closeness is part of it. You are not just saved by a powerful God, you are ransomed by the One who claims you as His own.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most commentators agree that the enemy in view is Pharaoh and his army. But they see different layers in the verse. Matthew Henry calls it an encouragement for God’s people to hope, even when their own sin has brought trouble. He points out that the verse follows a confession of rebellion, so the rescue is pure grace. John Calvin highlights how the psalmist uses this history to lead the people to repentance, not to boast in their ancestry. Gill, a Baptist, reads it as a picture of Christ saving His people from sin, Satan, and the world. Across traditions, the constant thread is this: God acted first, while Israel was still unfaithful. Christians see the same pattern in the cross, rescue before we were ready or worthy.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think this verse means God saved Israel because they were better than the Egyptians. The context says the opposite. Verses 7 and 13 show the people were rebellious and forgetful. In fact, the rescue happened despite their unbelief, as verse 8 makes clear: “Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake.” The deliverance was a gift, not a reward for good behavior.
Living This Out
Think of a situation this week where you feel trapped, maybe by a mistake you made, a fear that keeps circling, or a person who seems set against you. You may have brought it on yourself. That is the kind of corner Israel was in. Longing to be free but not sure you deserve rescue. This verse invites you to look away from your own readiness and toward God’s willingness. He saved them at the Red Sea when they had nothing to offer. He can act for you this week, not because you have it together, but because He is that kind of Redeemer. You can whisper the words of this verse back to Him as a prayer: “You saved me from the hand of the one who hates me. You redeemed me from the enemy.”
Main takeaway: God saves and redeems His people, not because they deserve it, but because He is merciful and faithful to His own name.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God saved His people from a bad king who wanted to hurt them. He made a path through the water so they could run away. God is strong and He loves His family.
For ages 9, 12
In this verse, the people had just been rescued from Egypt, but they were already complaining and scared at the Red Sea. They did not trust God. But God saved them anyway, just because He is merciful. This is important: God does not wait until we are perfect to help us. When you are in trouble and you know you have made mistakes, you can still cry out to God for help. He hears you.
Questions People Ask
Who is “him that hated them” in Psalm 106:10?
Almost all commentators identify this as Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He hated Israel because they had grown numerous, and especially after the plagues, he pursued them with murderous intent. The verse recalls Exodus 14, where Pharaoh’s army chased Israel to the Red Sea.
Does Psalm 106:10 only refer to the Exodus, or does it have a spiritual meaning?
The verse directly describes the Exodus rescue. But many Christian readers, like the commentator Gill, see it as a type of Christ’s salvation from sin, Satan, and the world. The pattern of an undeserved rescue by a mighty Redeemer carries forward into the New Testament.
What does “redeemed” mean in this verse?
The Hebrew word ga’al means to buy back, to act as a kinsman-redeemer. It carries the idea of a close relative who pays the price to set a family member free. Here, God takes that role for Israel: He is not a distant rescuer but a personal Redeemer who brings them out of the enemy’s hand at great cost.
How does this verse connect with the surrounding verses?
Verse 9 describes God rebuking the Red Sea so it dried up. Verse 11 adds that the waters covered their enemies. Verse 12 then says the people believed and sang praise. The whole passage shows that God’s saving act came first, and the people’s response followed. It is grace that leads to faith, not the other way around.
Why is this verse in a psalm that confesses sin?
Psalm 106 is a confession of Israel’s repeated failures. The writer includes verse 10 to show that even at the very start of their journey, God rescued them despite their rebellion. This sets the pattern for the whole psalm: God is faithful even when His people are not. It gives hope that the same mercy can cover their present sins.
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